The Samurai_
Original: 隠密剣士
The Samurai is a Japanese historical fiction television series made by Senkosha Productions during the early 1960s. Its original Japanese title was Onmitsu Kenshi. The series premiered in 1962 on TBS and ran continuously until 1965 for ten self-contained story arcs, usually of 13 episodes each. Also created were two black-and-white feature films by Toei Company, made in 1964 by the same crew which has created the TV series, and a stage show. The Samurai proved to be highly successful despite its initially very limited budget. It was the first Japanese TV program ever screened in Australia, where it premiered in 1964 and built up a remarkably large fan-base among the local young audience at the time, rapidly becoming a cult favourite. Despite its massive popularity in Australia as well as success in Japan, New Zealand and the Philippines, the series was not widely screened elsewhere and its fame remains largely restricted to those countries.
Network
TBS
Episodes
128
Updated Feb 16, 2026
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Overview
The Samurai has 10 seasons with 128 episodes spanning 1962-1987.
Year context
The Samurai first aired 64 years ago in 1962.
CAST (2)
SA
Shintaro Akikusa
Kôichi Ôse
Koichi Ose
Shintaro
SEASONS (10 seasons, 128 episodes)
SEASON 1
01
OVA
Shintarō saves a young Ainu wrongly accused of murder, relying on his wits and his pistol.
02
Duel at Kiritap
Shintarō captures an escaped thief and takes him to the town of Kiritap to be held until Kiba arrives. However, the villagers' greed allows the…
03
Sword Storm
Shintarō comes upon a woman and her young son who are being terrorised by a loan-shark and his offsider, a disreputable but skilled swordsman.
04
Revenge of the Ainus
A group of Ainu take a wagon carrying gold from the goldmine on the Shibuchari River in revenge for the death of the son of…
05
Imitation Prince
A shipwrecked rōnin impersonates Matsudaira Nobuchiyo at the instigation of a smuggler of guns so he can get them to the Ainu who has purchased…
06
Sudden Death
Shintarō helps a young boy find his mother who was taken by Onibishi, an Ainu chief. Kiba persuades Onibishi to set a trap for Shintarō.
07
Ambush at Hell Valley
Shintarō, Sanpei and the refugee Ainu women continue on their way to Kunashiri Island. Sanpei mistakenly thinks Shintarō is really after Ainu treasure. Kiba and…
08
Outlaw Brothers
Goromatsu's two outlaw brothers break him out of Shiranuka Gaol where he is awaiting transfer to Matsumae. He vows to kill Kiba and enlists their…
09
Blind Swordsman
Shintarō encounters Tendō Sawanosuke, a blind rōnin and his young daughter who are being harassed by Hidaya's bullies. Sawanosuke is well able to defeat them…
10
Pirate Treasure
Habaro a young part-Japanese Ainu hunter is persuaded by an ambitious gang leader to kill his boss so he can take over but is shot…
11
Master of the Sword
Shintarō helps a brother and sister from Aizu take revenge on the man who killed their father who is now using another name and is…
12
Return of the Outlaw
Chusuke the Weasel returns to Usu seeking Yaichi, the man who put him in gaol. None of the villagers will stand by Yaichi. They think…
13
Code of the Samurai
Matsumae government convoys and samurai have been attacked by a man in white who claims to the onmitsu. Shintarō resolves to unmask the impostor and…
SEASON 2
01
Secret Treasure
New adventure series set in medieval Japan telling of Shintaro the master swordsman and of his relentless search for his enemies, the black robed society…
02
Stolen Face
The first of the 13 ninja of the Koga society is dead after challenging Shintaro to a fight. Now Shintaro and his young companion,. Shusaku,…
03
Track of the Ninja
While walking along a dusty road on their way to Kofu, Shintaro and Shusaku notice an express courier in a great hurry and they catch…
04
Deathless One
While he and his companions are resting in an inn, Shintaro sees a scared rat running from the closet and realises there is someone hiding…
05
Unseen Enemy
When the leader of the infamous Koga society harangues Kurobei for failing to rescue another ninja from Shintaro, Kurobei decides to turn against the society…
06
Danger in the Temple
After sneaking out of a temple in which Shintaro has sought refuge for the night, Kurobei is challenged by a black clad figure in the…
07
The Spider
Shintaro goes to the rescue when he sees a band of villainous sedan-chair carriers running off with a girl named Chikage. Then he decides to…
08
Die Like a Ninja
Shintaro and his young companion have finally arrived in Kofu after many adventures but their arrival is being observed from afar by Sarobei and Genzo,…
09
Double Agent
The Koga ninja has been committing a series of crimes including arson and murder with the sole purpose of coaxing Shintaro into the open so…
10
The Hunter
Ninja Kogento enables an expert rifleman to do away with Shintaro.
11
Mystic Bridge
Shintaro offers to escort some fugitives from the Koga ninja into Kofu though this means he will have to walk back towards his enemies who…
12
Star Jumper
While searching for a secret entrance to a hidden gold mine, Shintaro sees a group of ninja attacking a woodsman.
13
The Magic Kite
Shintaro and Shusaku, while journeying through the mountains, save the life of a farmer who is hanging upside down in a tree. He tells them…
SEASON 3
01
Secret Mission to Kyoto
Sadanobu summons some close associates to tell them of his mission to Kyoto, ostensibly to oversee the rebuilding of the Imperial palace destroyed in a…
02
Rocket Attack
At Totsuka, the 6th station of the 53 on the Tokaido, Momochi Genkurō and his 10 master ninja, from the Manji Valley, who have been…
03
The Bribe
At Fujisawa, the 7th station, Gensai, one of the Iga group, bribes a maid at the inn Sadanobu is staying at, to put sleeping powder…
04
Betrayed by a Ninja
Discontented with Tonbei's leadership, Sanosuke is forced into working for Genkurō, to lure Shintarō into a trap with a false message from Sadanobu who is…
05
Spy's Revenge
Okayo, the ninja sister of Koheita, the archer, assumes the guise of an innocent traveller who has had her papers stolen but needs to get…
06
Poison Blade
At Yoshiwara, the 15th station, Genkurō challenges Shintarō to a duel. Okayo is his guide, so she can watch him be destroyed. The plan is…
07
The Face-Stealer
Ninja Toma the Face-stealer impersonates Tonbei and lures Shintarō to the Utsunoya Pass, near the 22nd station, and pushes him over a cliff, then goes…
08
Mysterious Pilgrims
The Tokaido divides at Kakegawa, the 27th station, into two parallel roads. Genkurō is not sure which one Sadanobu will take but becomes suspicious when…
09
Hide and Seek Death
At Miya, the 42nd station, Sadanobu is to take ship to reach his next destination, Kuwana, the 43rd station. Genkurō cannot attack him where he…
10
Dongan the Master Ninja
Genkuro and his remaining ninja go to Onime Dōgan, an ancient master ninja who has 4 pupils, to ask his help, as do Shintarō and…
11
Stolen Case
Suiki, one of Dōgan's pupils is persuaded to join Genkurō. Genkurō kills him and uses a stolen case to incriminate Shintarō. Suiki was actually Dōgan's…
12
Wolf Ninja
At Minakuchi, the 51st station, 40 miles from Kyoto and Gensai's home town, Genkurō's group is joined by Wolf Ninja who fight as a pack.…
13
The Last Duel
Otsu, just 10 miles from Kyoto, is Genkurō's last chance to kill Sadanobu.. The councillor is persuaded to hide in the inn's warehouse while Shintarō…
SEASON 4
01
Lure of Edo
02
The Plot
03
Disappearing Trick
04
Secret of the Chest
05
Hidden Leaf Ninja
06
Flying Robe Ninja
07
Puppet Ninja
08
Hawk Ninja
09
Flying Eagle
10
Ring of Fire
11
Ghost Ninja
12
Tendo the Dragon
13
The Thirteenth Ninja
SEASON 5
01
Mark of the Fuma
02
Search for Marishoten
03
Clue to Wind Thunder
04
Dragon Ship
05
Jinnai's Secret
06
Fuma Spider Attack
07
Musai's Curse
08
A Brave Death
09
Trapped by Spider Dojin
10
Fate of a Ninja
11
Danger Is the Same Face
12
Fuma's Treachery
13
Secret Cave
SEASON 6
01
Touch of Death
02
A Trap for Tombei
03
Taroza the Toad
04
Secret of the Wind Fort
05
The Barrier Gate
06
The Deserter
07
The Stolen Map
08
The Water Castle
09
A Narrow Escape
10
Return of Kitobo
11
Saved by a Ninja
12
Yaheiji the Typhoon
13
The Fire Tower
SEASON 7
01
The Conspiracy
02
The Oath of Revenge
03
Brotherly Hate
04
Black Shadow
05
The Trap
06
Ninja Decoy
07
Ninja of Death
08
Living Death
09
Devil Mask
10
Bloodthirsty Swords
11
The Turncoat
12
The Three Monks
13
Follow the Leader
SEASON 8
01
Master Ninja
02
The Book of Death
03
The Face-Stealer
04
Promise of Death
05
Butterfly Spy
06
House of Night
07
The Clue
08
Explosive Gold
09
Reign of Terror
10
The Spider
11
The Spider's Daughter
12
Phantom Captive
13
Lord of Night
14
Ninja Training
SEASON 9
01
The Puppet Master
02
Chinese Poison
03
The Magic Stick
04
The Impersonator
05
Kongo's Revenge
06
Strings of a Puppet
07
Spy's Execution
08
Bring Me His Head
09
Deadly Hostages
10
Cut the Puppet Strings
SEASON 10
01
Flames of Hate
02
The Challenge
03
Hidden Assassin
04
Return from the Dead
05
Pickpockets
06
Convert
07
Poison Dart
08
Revenge
09
Devil Mask House
10
Secret Passage
11
Friendly Enemy
12
Kongō's Warning
13
The Duel
SERIES INFO
10
Seasons
128
Episodes
24 min/ep
Per Episode
Ended
Status
NETWORKS (1)
TBS
DETAILS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is The Samurai about?
The Samurai is a Japanese historical fiction television series made by Senkosha Productions during the early 1960s. Its original Japanese title was Onmitsu Kenshi. The series premiered in 1962 on TBS and ran continuously until 1965 for ten self-contained story arcs, usually of 13 episodes each. Also created were two black-and-white feature films by Toei Company, made in 1964 by the same crew which has created the TV series, and a stage show.
The Samurai proved to be highly successful despite its initially very limited budget. It was the first Japanese TV program ever screened in Australia, where it premiered in 1964 and built up a remarkably large fan-base among the local young audience at the time, rapidly becoming a cult favourite. Despite its massive popularity in Australia as well as success in Japan, New Zealand and the Philippines, the series was not widely screened elsewhere and its fame remains largely restricted to those countries.
How many seasons does The Samurai have?
The Samurai has 10 seasons with 128 episodes total.
Who stars in The Samurai?
The cast of The Samurai includes Shintaro Akikusa, Koichi Ose.
Is The Samurai still running?
The Samurai has ended. The final episode aired on .
GENRES (2)
Comedy
Drama
